Enzymatic process for the manufacture of ascorbic acid, 2-keto-L-gulonic acid and esters of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed toward efficient, high-yield processes for making ascorbic acid, 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, and esters of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid. The processes comprise reacting the appropriate starting materials with a hydrolase enzyme catalyst such as a protease, an esterase, a lipase or an amidase.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/845,295, filed Apr. 25, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,490 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/017,879, filed May 17, 1996.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to processes for the manufacture of ascorbic acid, 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (KLG), and esters of KLG. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of enzyme catalysts in the manufacture of ascorbic acid, KLG or esters of KLG.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, is a dietary factor which must be present in the human diet to prevent scurvy and which has been identified as an agent that increases resistance to infection. Ascorbic acid is used commercially, for example, as a nutrition supplement, color fixing agent, flavoring and preservative in meats and other foods, oxidant in bread doughs, abscission of citrus fruit in harvesting and reducing agent in analytical chemistry.

One current method for the manufacture of ascorbic acid utilizes a modification of the original Reichstein-Grossner synthesis (Reichstein et al., Helv. Chim. Acta, 17:311 (1934); U.S. Pat. No. 2,301,811 to Reichstein; all references cited herein are specifically incorporated by reference). In this process a glucose source is converted to ascorbic acid. During conversion an intermediate of a diacetonide of KLG is produced.

Several two stage methods exists for the manufacture of ascorbic acid. In the first stage, glucose is converted via fermentation processes to either an isolated intermediate of KLG (Sonoyama et al., Applied and Envtl. Microbiology, 43:1064-1069 (1982); Anderson et al., Science, 230:144-149 (1985); Shinjoh et al., Applied and Envtl. Microbiology, 61:413-420 (1995)) or the intermediate of the Reichstein-Grossner synthesis, the diacetonide of KLG.

The second stage, which converts either of the intermediates to ascorbic acid, proceeds by one of two reported routes. The first route, a modification of the latter steps of the Reichstein-Grossner synthesis, requires a multitude of steps whereby the intermediate is esterified with methanol under strongly acidic conditions to produce methyl-2-keto-L-gulonate (MeKLG). The MeKLG is then reacted with base to produce a metal ascorbate salt. Finally, the metal ascorbate salt is treated with an acidulant to obtain ascorbic acid. The second route is a one-step method comprising acid-catalyzed cyclization of KLG, as originally disclosed in GB Patent No. 466548 to Reichstein) and later modified by Yamazaki (Yamazaki, J. Agri. Chem. Soc. Japan, 28:890-894 (1954), and Chem. Abs., 50:5992d) and again by Yodice (WO 87/00839). The Yodice method is commercially undesirable because it uses large amounts of gaseous hydrogen chloride, requires very expensive process equipment and produces an ascorbic acid product requiring extensive purification.

Lipases, a group of hydrolase enzymes, have been used with some success in the synthesis of esters of organic acids. In particular, lipases have been utilized in the transesterification of alcohols in which the esterifying agent is irreversible, such as when vinyl acetate is used as the esterifying agent (Thiel, Catalysis Today, 517-536 (1994)). Gutman et. al., Tetrahedron Lett., 28:3861-3864 (1987), describes a process for preparing simple 5-membered ring lactones from gamma-hydroxy methyl esters using porcine pancreatic lipase as the catalyst. However, Gutman et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 28:5367-5368 (1987), later reported that substituting delta-hydroxy methyl esters for gamma-hydroxy methyl esters and using the same catalyst produced only polymers. In EP 0 515 694 A1 to Sakashita et. al., a synthesis of esters of ascorbic acid, which are acylated on the primary hydroxyl group, comprises reacting ascorbic acid with a variety of fatty acid active esters (i.e., fatty acid vinyl esters) in a polar organic solvent in the presence of a lipase.

Thus, there exists a need in the art for methods of producing (a) ascorbic acid or metal salts thereof from KLG or esters of KLG, (b) KLG from esters of KLG and (c) esters of KLG from KLG, which have high yield and high purity with little or no by-product formation and are conducted under mild conditions. Accordingly, it is to the provision of such that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses an advancement in the chemical and biological arts in which a process for preparing ascorbic acid comprises contacting KLG or an ester of KLG with a hydrolase enzyme catalyst.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a process for producing KLG comprises contacting an ester of KLG in an aqueous solution with a hydrolase enzyme catalyst.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, a process for producing esters of KLG from KLG comprises contacting an alcoholic solution of KLG with a hydrolase enzyme catalyst. The alcoholic solution contains an alcohol corresponding to an alkyl moiety of the ester of KLG to be prepared.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, a process for producing esters of KLG from esters of KLG comprises contacting an alcoholic solution of a first ester of KLG with a hydrolase enzyme catalyst. The alcoholic solution contains an alcohol corresponding to an alkyl moiety of a second ester of KLG which is to be prepared.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the unexpected discovery that ascorbic acid can be formed from KLG or, more preferably, esters of KLG by inducing ring closure of KLG or esters of KLG using a hydrolase enzyme as a catalyst. The process for producing the ascorbic acid may be performed in the melt or in solution. The process may also be performed in vivo or in vitro. For in vivo processes, the hydrolase enzyme catalyst may be naturally occurring within a host cell or may be introduced into a host cell or organism by recombinant DNA methods.

The present invention is also directed to the unexpected discovery that KLG can be prepared in a reversible reaction by reacting an ester of KLG in an aqueous solution using a hydrolase enzyme as a catalyst. Moreover, the present invention is directed to the unexpected discovery that an ester of KLG can be prepared by reacting KLG or another ester of KLG in an alcoholic solution using a hydrolase enzyme as a catalyst. The alcohol used to prepare the solution corresponds to the alkyl moiety of the ester of KLG being prepared.

The hydrolase enzymes for use as catalysts in the processes of the present invention may be derived from or isolated from any appropriate source organisms. Examples of which include, but are not limited to, plants, microorganisms, and animals, such as yeast, bacteria, mold, fungus, birds, reptiles, fish, and mammals. Hydrolase enzymes for the purposes of this invention are defined generally by the enzyme class E.C.3.-.-.-, as defined in Enzyme Nomenclature (Academic Press, 1992), and are commercially available.

Preferred hydrolase enzymes are those capable of effecting hydrolysis of molecules containing carbonyl or phosphate groups. More specifically, the preferred hydrolases are capable of effecting hydrolysis at a carbonyl carbon bearing a heteroatom single bond. Examples of such carbonyl carbons bearing a heteroatom single bond include, but are not limited to, esters, thioesters, amides, acids, acid halides, and the like. The preferred hydrolases include the enzyme class E.C.3.1.-.-, which includes hydrolases acting on ester bonds, such as esterases and lipases; the enzyme class E.C.3.2-.-, which includes glycosidases; the enzyme class E.C.3.4-.-, which includes peptide hydrolases, such as proteases; and the enzyme class E.C.3.5.-.-, which includes amidases acting on bonds other than peptide bonds. Most preferred hydrolases include proteases, amidases, lipases, and esterases.

More preferred hydrolases contain an active site serine residue which is capable of undergoing esterification or transesterification with KLG or esters of KLG. Even more preferred are those hydrolases which contain the catalytic triad of serine, histidine and apartic acid.

Preferred proteases include those derived from bacteria of the genera Bacillus or Aspergillus. Particularly preferred proteases are those obtained from the bacteria Bacillus licheniformis. Preferred proteases are those containing at least 70% sequence homology with Subtilisin. Proteases having sequence homology with Subtilisin are used in the detergent industry and, therefore, are readily available. More preferred are proteases having at least 80% sequence homology with Subtilisin, even more preferred are proteases having at least 90% sequence homology with Subtilisin and, in particular, proteases having at least 95% sequence homology to Subtilisin. A highly preferred protease is Subtilisin itself having an amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) described by Smith et al., J. Biol. Chem., 243:2184-2191 (1968), and given below:

    __________________________________________________________________________     MMRKKSFWLG                                                                              MLTAFMLVFT                                                                              MAFSDSASAA                                                                              QPAKNVEKDY                                            IVGFKSGVKT ASVKKDIIKE SGGKVDKQFR IINAAKAKLD                                    KEALKEVKND PDVAYVEEDH VAHALAQTVP YGIPLIKADK                                    VQAQGFKGAN VKVAVLDTGI QASHPDLNVV GGASFVAGEA                                    YNTDGNGHGT HVAGTVAALD NTTGVLGVAP SVSLYAVKVL                                    NSSGSGTYSG IVSGIEWATT NGMDVINMSL GGPSGSTAMK                                    QAVDNAYARG VVVVAAAGNS GSSGNTNTIG YPAKYDSVIA                                    VGAVDSNSNR ASFSSVGAEL EVMAPGAGVY STYPTSTYAT                                    LNGTSMASPH VAGAAALILS KHPNLSASQV RNRLSSTATY                                    LGSSFYYGKG LINVEAAAQ.                                                        __________________________________________________________________________

For the convenience of the reader, Table 1 provides a summary of amino acid shorthand used above and in the remainder of the specification.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Amino Acid      Three-Letter                                                     Symbol Abbreviation One-Letter                                               ______________________________________                                         Alanine         Ala       A                                                      Arginine Arg R                                                                 Asparagine Asn N                                                               Aspartic Acid Asp D                                                            Cysteine Cys C                                                                 Glutamine Gln Q                                                                Glutamic Acid Glu E                                                            Glycine Gly G                                                                  Histidine His H                                                                Isoleucine Ile I                                                               Leucine Leu L                                                                  Lysine Lys K                                                                   Methionine Met M                                                               Phenylalanine Phe F                                                            Proline Pro P                                                                  Serine Ser S                                                                   Threonine Thr T                                                                Tryptophan Trp W                                                               Tyrosine Tyr Y                                                                 Valine Val V                                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Also encompassed by the scope of the present invention are proteases corresponding to one to six site-specific mutants, sequence additions, and sequence deletions of the sequence given above. Even more preferred are proteases corresponding to zero to two site-specific mutants of the Subtilisin sequence given above.

Esterases suitable for the present invention include those obtained from pig liver extract. Preferred esterases are those having at least 70% sequence homology with pig liver esterase having an amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) described in Matsushima et al., FEBS Lett., 293:37 (1991), and given below:

    __________________________________________________________________________     MWLLPLVLTS                                                                              LASSATWAGQ                                                                              PASPPVVDTA                                                                              QGRVLGKYVS                                            LEGLAFTQPV AVFLGVPFAK PPLGSLRFAP PQPAEPWSFV                                    KNTTSYPPMC CQDPVVEQMT SDLFTNFTGK ERLTLEFSED                                    CLYLNIYTPA DLTKRGRLPV MVWIHGGGLV LGGAPMYDGV                                    VLAAHENFTV VVVAIQYRLG IWGFFSTGDE HSRGNWGHLD                                    QVAALHWVQE NIANFGGDPG SVTIFGESFT AGGESVSVLV                                    LSPLAKNLFH RAISESGVAL TVALVRKDMK AAAKQIAVLA                                    GCKTTTSAVF TFVHCLRQKS EDELLDLTLK MKFLTLDFHG                                    DQRESHPFLP TVVDGVLLPK MPEEILAEKD FTFNTVPYIV                                    GINKQEFGWL LPTMMGFPLS EGKLDQKTAT SLLWKSYPIA                                    NIPEELTPVA TFTDKYLGGT DDPVKKKDLF LDLMGDVVFG                                    VPSVTVARQH RDAGAPTYMY EFQYRPSFSS DKFTKPKTVI                                    GDHGDEIFSV FGFPLLKGDA PEEEVSLSKT VMKFWANFAR                                    SGNPNGEGLP HWPFTMYDQE EGYLQIGVNT QAAKRLKGEE                                    VAFWNDLLSK EAAKKPPKIK HAEL.                                                  __________________________________________________________________________

Esterases more preferably have at least 80% sequence homology with the sequence of the pig liver esterase given above, even more preferably at least 90% sequence homology, especially preferred at least 95% sequence homology. Highly preferred is the pig liver esterase having the sequence given above.

Also encompassed by the scope of the present invention are esterases corresponding to one to six site-specific mutants, sequence additions, and sequence deletions of the sequence given above. Even more preferred are esterases corresponding to zero to two site-specific mutants of the pig liver esterase sequence given above.

Preferred lipases include those isolated from pigs and other mammals, microorganisms, and plants. This includes, but is not limited to, lipases obtained from the genera Aspergillus, Mucor, Candida, Pseudomonas, Humicola, Rhizopus, Chromobacterium, Alcaligenes, Geotricum, and Penicillium. Preferred lipases also include extracellular lipases, such as cutinases. More preferred lipases have at least 70% sequence homology with Candida Antartica type B lipase, even more preferred have at least 80% sequence homology, still more preferred have at least 90% sequence homology, and even more preferred have at least 95% sequence homology. A highly preferred lipase is the Candida Antartica type B lipase itself which has an amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3) described by Uppenberg et al., Structure, 2:293, 453 (1994), and given below:

    __________________________________________________________________________     MKLLSLTGVA                                                                              GVLATCVAAT                                                                              PLVKRLPSGS                                                                              DPAFSQPKSV                                            LDAGLTCQGA SPSSVSKPIL LVPGTGTTGP QSFDSNWIPL                                    STQLGYTPCW ISPPPFMLND TQVNTEYMVN AITALYAGSG                                    NNKLPVLTWS QGGLVAQWGL TFFPSIRSKV DRLMAFAPDY                                    KGTVLAGPLD ALAVSAPSVW QQTTGSALTT ALRNAGGLTQ                                    IVPTTNLYSA TDEIVQPQVS NSPLDSSYLF NGKNVQAQAV                                    CGPLFVIDHA GSLTSQFSYV VGRSALRSTT GQARSADYGI                                    TDCNPLPAND LTPEQKVAAA ALLAPAAAAI VAGPKQNCEP                                    DLMPYARPFA VGKRTCSGIV TP.                                                    __________________________________________________________________________

Also encompassed by the scope of the present invention are lipases corresponding to one to six site-specific mutants, sequence additions, and sequence deletions of the sequence given above. Even more preferred are lipases corresponding to zero to two site-specific mutants of the Candida Antartica type B sequence given above.

Preferred amidases include those isolated from bacteria of the genus Penicillium. A more preferred amidase has at least 80% sequence homology with Penicillin acylase. A particularly preferred amidase is Penicillin acylase, which is also referred to as Penicillin amidohydrolase, E.C. 3.5.1.11 (Duggleby et al., Nature, 373:264-268 (1995)).

For hydrolases containing serine at their active site, the first step in the reaction of either KLG or esters of KLG is believed to involve formation of a KLG-enzyme ester via acylation by KLG of the active site serine. Intra-molecular ring closure is believed to yield ascorbic acid (or its salts), whereas alcoholysis yields an ester of KLG and hydrolysis yields KLG.

The process of the present invention comprises contacting either KLG or an ester of KLG with a hydrolase enzyme to form ascorbic acid. Preferably, this reaction is performed in the presence of an organic solvent system, an aqueous solvent system or a mixture thereof. The organic solvent is preferably a C₁ -C₆ alcohol. The aqueous solvent system or mixed aqueous and organic solvent systems are more preferable because ascorbic acid, KLG, and esters of KLG are generally more soluble in aqueous solvent systems. For the in vitro production of ascorbic acid from esters of KLG, the mixed aqueous and organic solvent systems or organic solvent systems are preferable to minimize competing hydrolysis reactions which can produce KLG as a byproduct. Aqueous solvent systems are especially preferable when utilizing whole cell systems for the production of ascorbic acid in vivo.

In one aspect of the present invention, the ascorbic acid is produced from KLG or esters of KLG in in vivo, whole cell, and whole organism production systems in the presence of the hydrolase enzyme catalyst. In one embodiment, the hydrolase enzyme is naturally produced by the host organism. In another embodiment, the hydrolase enzyme is produced by the host organism through recombinant DNA technology. For example, a gene sequence encoding a hydrolase enzyme is inserted in a host organism wherein the host organism may be a microorganism, plant, or animal which is capable of expressing the hydrolase enzyme. The host organism producing the hydrolase enzyme is cultured, i.e. provided with nutrients and a suitable environment for growth, in the presence of KLG or esters of KLG to produce the ascorbic acid. Preferably, the host organism is Pantoea citrea, previously referred to as Erwinia herbicola as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,193 to Anderson et al.

Also preferably, the host organism is one that produces KLG in addition to producing the hydrolase enzyme. Representative organisms are from the genera Pantoea or Gluconobacter, such as disclosed in Shinjoh et al., Applied and Envtl. Microbiology, 61:413-420 (1995), and the genus Corynebacterium as disclosed in Sonoyama et al., Applied and Envtl. Microbiology, 43:1064-1069 (1982).

As used herein, recombinant DNA technology includes in vitro recombinant DNA techniques, synthetic techniques and in vivo recombinant/ genetic recombination and is well known in the art. See, for example, the techniques described in Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, N.Y. (1989); Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley Interscience, N.Y. (1989); Anderson et al., Science, 230:144-149 (1985); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,882 to Estell et. al.

For preparations of KLG from esters of KLG, an aqueous solution of the ester of KLG is reacted with the hydrolase enzyme. A co-solvent may be used in the preparation of KLG and is preferably a C₁ -C₆ alcohol.

For preparations of the esters of KLG from KLG or from other esters of KLG, the starting material is in an alcoholic solution wherein the alcohol corresponds to the alkyl moiety of the ester of KLG to be prepared. The alkyl moiety R of the alcohol ROH from which the preferred ester of KLG is derived may be chosen from branched or straight chain, saturated or unsaturated, alkyl, arylalkyls, aryls, and substituted aryls. Preferred R groups include C₁ to C₆ straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated alkyls. Even more preferred esters of KLG that are derived for alkyl moieties include MeKLG, ethyl-KLG, n-propyl-KLG, isopropyl-KLG, n-butyl-KLG, isobutyl-KLG, t-butyl-KLG, and n-pentyl-KLG. The most preferred esters of KLG produced are MeKLG due to its ease of manufacture and butyl-KLG due to the advantageous use of the butanol water azeotroph in water removal. A co-solvent may be used in the preparation of the esters of KLG and is preferably water, a C₁ -C₆ alcohol or a mixture thereof.

Preferred temperatures for conducting the reactions of the present invention are from about 5° C. to about 120° C. Even more preferred temperatures are from about 25° C. to about 100° C., and especially preferred temperatures are from about 38° C. to about 80° C.

The preferred pH for the process of the present invention is between about 1.5 and about 10, and a more preferred pH is between about 3 and about 10. For the preparation of ascorbic acid salts from esters of KLG, a particularly preferred pH range is between about 6 and about 10. For the preparation of ascorbic acid as the free acid, a preferred pH is that under the pKa of ascorbic acid and, more preferred, is that under about 4.2. For the preparation of KLG from esters of KLG, a particularly preferred pH range is between about 5 and about 10 due to the generally enhanced rates of enzyme assisted hydrolysis in this pH range. Alternatively, a pH of between about 1.5 and about 2.5 is particularly desirable for the generation of KLG in protonated form. Finally, for the preparation of esters of KLG from KLG, a particularly preferred pH range is between about 3 and about 6.

Each hydrolase has a temperature optimum, a pH optimum, and a pH and temperature range associated with activity. Thus, the appropriate pH and temperature range for a given hydrolase is that which allows for activity of the hydrolase and avoids conditions which are denaturing or inactivating to the hydrolase. For conditions which may be denaturing, such as high temperature or the use of denaturing solvents such as methanol or the like, a minimal amount of testing may be required to define those hydrolases which remain active under a given set of conditions.

The following examples are offered by way of illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention.

EXAMPLES

Proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were recorded on a Varian Gemini 300 NMR instrument operating at 300 MHZ in proton mode and 75 MHZ in carbon mode. All NMR spectra were referenced to tetramethylsilane (TMS) at 0 parts per million (ppm) and peak frequencies were recorded in ppm unless otherwise specified. HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) analysis was carried out using ultraviolet (UV) detection. Mass spectra (MS) were obtained using a Fisons VG Analytical Ltd. Autospec Mass Spectrometer in FD (field desorption) mode.

The KLG used in the experiments was obtained by fermentation according to the method of Lazarus et. al., Anderson et al., Science, 230:144-149 (1985), and was purified by concentration and crystallization. KLG may alternatively be prepared by chemical conversion from L-sorbose according to methods well known in the art (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,301,811 to Reichstein). A standard of methyl-2-keto-L-gulonate was purchased from Aldrich Chemical Company (Rare and Specialty Chemicals Catalog), in addition to being prepared by esterification of KLG by methods similar to the procedure used for the preparation of butyl-KLG, described below.

Enzyme hydrolase samples were obtained from commercial sources, including Sigma Chemical Company, Altus Biologics, Recombinant Biocatalysis, Boehringer Mannheim, Novo Nordisk, Genencor International, Thermogen, and Fluka.

Example 1

This example describes the preparation and purification of butyl 2-keto-L-gulonate.

KLG hydrate (51.62 g) was charged in a 500 ml reaction vessel under argon. The reactor was equipped with a 12" vigreux column attached to a Dean Stark trap. The reactor was then charged with n-butanol (310 g) and p-toluene sulfonic acid (2.3 g). The reaction mixture was brought to reflux (81-82° C.) under mild vacuum (approximately 150 mm Hg) with stirring. Reflux was maintained for a total of two hours and 40 minutes. Heating was discontinued. The reaction was allowed to cool and remain at room temperature for approximately 3 days. The resulting crystals were filtered through a coarse fritted glass filter and washed with two portions of n-butyl alcohol (139 g followed by 37 g). The resulting solids (24.4 g) were dissolved in hot ethyl acetate (250 ml) and recrystallized by standing overnight at room temperature. The recrystallized butyl-KLG was isolated by filtration and dried under vacuum (1.5 mm Hg) until constant weight (15.97 g) was achieved.

The butyl-KLG thus prepared was found to have a solubility of at least 50 weight percent in water as it was soluble at all concentrations under 50 weight percent in water. The recrystallized butyl-KLG of this example had satisfactory proton and carbon NMR spectra and gave the predicted molecular weight by field desorption mass spectrometry.

¹ H NMR (DMSO, digital resolution=0.11 Hz, TMS at half height=0.5 Hz): 6.49 (OH, d, J=1.4 Hz), 4.96 (OH, d, J=5.0 Hz), 4.84 (OH, d, J=4.8 Hz), 4.78 (OH, d, J=7.4 Hz), 4.17-4.0 (m, 2 H), 3.5-3.2 (m, approximately 5 H), 1.64-1.5 (m, 2 H), 1.4-1.35 (m, 2 H), 0.89 (CH₃ , t, J=7.3).

¹³ C NMR (DMSO, decoupled): 169.4, 96.3, 73.8, 72.8, 69.8, 64.5, 62.8, 30.0, 18.4, 13.5.

FDMS: M=250

Example 2

The following procedure was used to demonstrate enzymes for activity under specific pH and aqueous solvent composition conditions.

Initial enzyme screens were carried out as follows. Enzyme (typically 10 mg), aqueous buffer (typically 860 microliters (ul) or 550 ul), aqueous 0.2 M CaCl₂ (10 ul), methanol (typically 90 ul or 400 ul), and an aqueous solution of substrate (typically 90 ul of butyl-KLG at a typical concentration of 1100,000 ppm) were added to a 2 ml polypropylene centrifuge tube. The resulting solution was vortexed briefly and placed on a shaker bath at 300 rpm at 38° C. (typically for 18 hours or more). After incubation, samples were centrifuged at 14,000 G's (14,000 times gravity) for 20 minutes to remove enzyme, sampled (300 ul), and diluted to one milliliter with distilled water. If not analyzed by HPLC within the day, samples were frozen prior to analysis.

Summarized below in Table 2 is the HPLC data of the products (and remaining substrate) upon reaction of butyl-KLG (BuKLG) with a variety of enzyme hydrolases in water/methanol solution. The data were reported in terms of parts per million of KLG, MeKLG, ascorbic acid (ASA) and butyl-KLG. The reporting of a 0 (zero) indicated that the amount of material present was below the detection threshold of the instrument. Samples labeled as "no enzyme" were controls within a given run. The controls contained substrate but no enzyme and thus represented experimental and HPLC background data.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Enzyme Screen for                                                                Hydrolysis/Methanolysis of Butyl-KLG                                           (38° C. for 41 Hours/38% Methanol-                                      Water/0.1 MES Buffer)                                                                       Measured,                  BuKLG                                  Enzyme pH KLG MeKLG ASA (ppm)                                                ______________________________________                                         ESL-001-01 5.8       1180   2352   766  4603                                     ESL-001-02 5.6 704 1084 302 7736                                               ESL-001-03 5.7 386 527 257 8931                                                ESL-001-04 5.8 550 752 833 6229                                                ESL-001-05 5.9 456 684 469 7942                                                ESL-001-06 5.6 547 661 129 8896                                                ESL-001-07 5.7 311 755 489 6540                                                No Enzyme  108 325 33 10177                                                    No Enzyme (repeat)  107 303 0 9459                                             No Enzyme  117 327 42 9878                                                     No Enzyme (repeat)  103 269 2 8593                                             No Enzyme  116 322 0 9473                                                    ______________________________________                                    

Table 2 illustrates that the hydrolases provided by Recombinant Biocatalysis (ESL-001-01 through ESL-001-07) showed appreciable conversion of butyl-KLG to ascorbic acid, MeKLG, and KLG in a 38% methanol-water solution buffered with morpholinoethane sulfonic acid (MES) hemisodium salt at a pH controlled between 5.5 and 6. These hydrolase enzymes are sold commercially by Recombinant Biocatalysis as recombinant esterases and lipases from thermophilic organisms under the tradename CloneZyme™.

Example 3

Table 3 below illustrates that a variety of acylases, esterases, lipases, and proteases showed appreciable conversion of butyl-KLG to ascorbic acid, MeKLG, and KLG in a 38% methanol-water solution buffered at pH 4.8 to 5.8 with MES buffer. The enzymes labeled as ChiroClec™ are crystalline crosslinked enzymes sold commercially by Altus Biologics. ChiroClec™ -CR is a lipase from Candida rugosa, ChiroClec™ -BL is a crystalline form of Subtilisin (a protease), and ChiroClec™ -PC is a lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia. Candida Antartica B (a lipase), pig liver esterase (a hydrolase), and Bacillus Species protease showed particularly high levels of activity.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Enzyme Screen for Hydrolysis/Methanolysis of Butyl-KLG                           (38° C. for 16 Hours/38% Methanol-Water/0.1M MES Buffer)                                  Mea-                                                                                                    sure    BuKLG                       Enzyme d pH KLG MeKLG ASA (ppm)                                              ______________________________________                                         Pig Liver Esterase                                                                             5.3    446    4377  294  5711                                    Pseudomonas cepacia Lipase 5.3 98 295 65 11355                                 Porcine Pancreatic Lipase 5.4 81 316 49 10709                                  Candida Rugosa Lipase 5.7 122 197 180 10689                                    Alpha-Chymotrypsin 4.9 57 152 20 11174                                         Penicillin Acylase 5.6 83 1307 15 12007                                        Aspergillus niger Lipase 5.7 302 541 55 12290                                  no enzyme 5.1 88 210 5 10393                                                   no enzyme 5.1 87 199 1 11553                                                   Candida Antartica `A` Lipase 5.4 88 242 37 10670                               Candida lipolytica Lipase 5.3 91 92 5 11604                                    Candida antartica `B` Lipase 4.8 2915 6807 0 0                                 Humicola lanuginosa Lipase 5 63 90 6 10191                                     Bacillus Species Protease 4.8 2587 5386 9 1251                                 no enzyme 5.2 94 194 1 11552                                                   ChiroCLEC-CR (Dry) 5.1 113 222 2 10988                                         ChiroCLEC-BL (Dry) 5.4 194 642 3 5123                                          ChiroCLEC-PC (Pseudomonas 5.7 147 566 1 10471                                  cepacia)                                                                       Rhizoipus Delmar Lipase 5.5 51 99 1 7392                                       Rhizopus Niveus Lipase 5.1 80 252 17 10453                                     Rhizopus Oryzae Lipase 5.5 58 172 5 10873                                      Chromobacterium Viscosum 5.5 433 187 1 10843                                   Lipase                                                                         Geotricum Candidum Lipase 5 33 407 7 10000                                     Mucor Javanicus Lipase 5.5 33 167 97 9950                                      Aspergillus Oryzae Protease 5.8 289 781 96 7429                                Amano-Lipase 5.3 56 300 49 9143                                                PS30 (Pseudomonas)                                                             Amano-Lipase AK 5.6 74 167 93 11372                                            (Pseudomonas)                                                                ______________________________________                                    

Example 4

Table 4 below illustrates that a variety of acylases, esterases, lipases, and proteases showed appreciable conversion of butyl-KLG to ascorbic acid, MeKLG, and KLG in a 38% methanol-water solution buffered at pH 5 to 5.8 with MES buffer. Pig liver esterase, Subtilisin Carlsberg (a protease), Bacillus species protease, ChiroClec™ -BL, and Candida Antartica B lipase all show particularly high levels of activity.

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Enzyme Screen for Hydrolysis/Methanolysis of Butyl-KLG                           (38° C. for 47.5 Hours/38% Methanol-Water/0.1 M                         MES Buffer)                                                                                     Mea-                                                           sured    BuKLG                                                                Enzyme pH KLG MeKLG ASA (ppm)                                                ______________________________________                                         Pig Liver Esterase                                                                            5.3     705    2720  246  1368                                    Pseudomonas cepacia Lipase 5.5 77 288 46 6222                                  Porcine Pancreatic Lipase 5.4 229 613 222 10899                                Candida rugosa Lipase 5.8 104 205 155 5417                                     Alpha-Chymotrypsin 5.1 82 248 54 6092                                          Penicillin Acylase 5.8 100 1607 30 6192                                        Aspergillus niger Lipase 5.3 214 391 29 6470                                   Mucor meihei Lipase 5.6 54 189 108 7041                                        ChiroCLEC-CR 5.5 115 218 99 3769                                               Subtilisin Carlsberg 5.1 3072 47 0 0                                           Candida antarctica A 5.4 166 316 35 5943                                       Candida lipolytica Lipase 5.7 150 166 0 6445                                   Candida antartica B 5.3 2210 3520 60 0                                         Humicola lanuginosa Lipase 5.2 129 241 42 8017                                 Bacillus Sp Protease 5.3 3722 1940 29 38                                       ChiroCLEC-BL protease 5 3744 1724 54 634                                       ChiroCLEC PC lipase 5.7 108 196 5 4148                                         Candida Rugosa esterase 5.6 70 309 61 6734                                     L-1 (Pseudomonas sp)) 5.4 90 336 11 7066                                       L-2 (Candida antartica B) 5.5 2622 3764 14 913                                 L-3 (Candida cylindracea) 5.7 88 158 37 10343                                  L-5 (Candida antartica A) 5.5 153 665 42 4626                                  L-6 (Pseudomonas sp) 5.7 0 379 13 6183                                         L-7 (Porcine pancreas) 5.8 94 884 120 5488                                     L-8 (Humicola sp) 5.5 98 219 7 7299                                            no enzyme 5.6 75 234 5 5508                                                    no enzyme 5.5 68 209 6 4968                                                    no enzyme 5.6 65 277 16 5320                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Example 5

Table 5 below illustrates that a variety of lipases and proteases showed appreciable conversion of butyl-KLG to ascorbic acid, MeKLG, and KLG in a 38% methanol-water solution buffered at pH 5.7 to 6.1 with MES buffer. On comparison with the other enzymes in this table, Prozyme 6 (a protease from Aspergillus oryzae), Protease 2A (from Aspergillus oryzae), and GC899 (a commercial detergent protease from Genencor International) showed higher levels of activity.

                                      TABLE 5                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Enzyme Screen for Hydrolysis/Methanolysis of Butyl-KLG                           (38° C. for 19 Hours/38% Methanol-Water/0.1 M MES Buffer)             Enzyme      Comment                                                                             Measured pH                                                                           KLG                                                                               MeKLG                                                                              ASA                                                                               BuKLG (ppm)                                  __________________________________________________________________________     PS30 (Pseudomonas)                                                                         Lipase                                                                              5.9    83 213 32 10424                                          GC4 (Geotricum candidum) Lipase 5.7 0 166 0 7475                               AK (Pseudomonas) Lipase 6 27 205 26 9815                                       G (Penicillium) Lipase 5.8 0 0 0 9441                                          Newlase A (Aspergillus) Protease 5.9 83 299 6 10368                            Protease M (Aspergillus) Protease 6 498 1054 281 6990                          Prozyme 6 (Aspergillus) Protease 6 1489 2259 0 4965                            MAP10 (Mucor) Lipase 6.1 21 148 145 8968                                       No enzyme  5.9 71 169 22 9463                                                  No enzyme  5.9 75 191 6 9391                                                   No enzyme  5.9 79 196 7 9539                                                   D (Rhizopus) Lipase 5.7 44 156 3 8562                                          Newlase II (Rhizopus) Protease 5.9 36 164 12 9586                              AY30 (Candida) Lipase 6 0 192 33 8725                                          L-10 (Candida) Lipase 5.7 0 0 0 9608                                           CES (Pseudomonas) Lipase 5.8 52 296 42 9491                                    N (Rhizopus) Lipase 5.8 78 404 27 9834                                         2A (Protease, Aspergillus) Protease 6.1 937 1158 215 8951                      Hog Pancreatic Lipase Fluka 6 58 529 130 11114                                 Lipase (Sigma-1754) Lipase 5.8 57 98 47 9845                                   Lipase (Sigma-1754) Lipase 5.8 46 88 82 9428                                   Lipase (Sigma-8525) Lipase 5.9 178 222 60 9041                                 Lipase (Sigma-1754) Lipase 5.7 76 145 89 14257                                 Lipase (Sigma-3126) Lipase 5.9 90 415 130 12756                                F-15 (Rhizopus) Lipase 5.8 55 165 14 10262                                     Lipozyme (Novo-Liquid) Lipase 6 82 122 160 9100                                GC899 (protease) Protease 5.8 791 2735 312 11607                             __________________________________________________________________________

Example 6

Table 6 below illustrates that a variety of lipases and proteases showed appreciable conversion of butyl-KLG to ascorbic acid, MeKLG, and KLG in a 8.6% methanol-water solution buffered at a pH of 5.3 to 6 with MES buffer. Protease M (Aspergillus oryzae), Prozyme 6 (a protease from Aspergillus oryzae), Protease N (Subtilisin), and Protease 2A (Aspergillus oryzae) all showed particularly high levels of activity.

                                      TABLE 6                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Enzyme Screen for Hydrolysis/Methanolysis of Butyl-KLG                           (38° for 19 Hours/8.6% Methanol-Water/0.1 M MES)                                       Measured       BuKLG                                            Enzyme Comment pH KLG MeKLG ASA (ppm)                                        __________________________________________________________________________     PS30 (Pseudomonas)                                                                         Lipase                                                                              5.9  341                                                                               163 157                                                                               8363                                             GC4 (Geotricum candidum) Lipase 5.9 424 0 8 4192                               AK (Pseudomonas) Lipase 6 295 432 125 8255                                     G (Penicillium) Lipase 5.8 253 323 0 7678                                      Newlase A (Aspergillus) Protease 5.7 692 302 126 13408                         R-10 (Penicillium) Lipase 6 527 208 583 5570                                   Protease M (Aspergillus) Protease 6 3650 2262 328 1696                         Prozyme 6 (Aspergillus) Protease 5.3 7207 694 0 0                              MAP10 (Mucor) Lipase 6 369 0 231 8334                                          No enzyme  5.8 378 239 132 8272                                                No enzyme  5.8 380 205 19 8582                                                 No enzyme  5.8 382 295 43 8785                                                 D (Rhizopus) Lipase 5.9 595 326 76 11656                                       Newlase II (Rhizopus) Protease 5.9 323 212 28 8535                             AY30 (Candida) Lipase 5.9 330 249 254 10195                                    L-10 (Candida) Lipase 5.8 302 69 55 11057                                      AP12 (Aspergillus) Lipase 6 1448 738 129 7730                                  CES (Pseudomonas) Lipase 5.9 197 252 0 8092                                    N (Rhizopus) Lipase 6 582 348 61 9598                                          N (Protease, Bacillus) Protease 5.7 1572 1289 26 1822                          2A (Protease, Aspergillus) Protease 5.7 5891 616 160 764                       Hog Pancreatic Lipase Fluka 5.8 890 791 158 5284                               Lipase (Sigma-1754) Lipase 5.9 283 116 148 6196                                Lipase (Sigma-1754) Lipase 6 348 189 415 8098                                  Lipase (Sigma-8525) Lipase 6 326 93 15 4112                                    Lipase (Sigma-1754) Lipase 6 300 150 154 8057                                  Lipase (Sigma-3126) Lipase 5.8 787 488 99 8829                                 F-15 (Rhizopus) Lipase 5.9 218 124 0 8682                                      Lipozyme (Novo-Liquid) Lipase 5.8 380 95 101 7251                              GC899 (protease) Protease 5.6 3354 1765 201 6991                             __________________________________________________________________________

Example 7

Table 7 below illustrates that a variety of acylases, esterases, lipases, and proteases showed appreciable conversion of butyl-KLG to ascorbic acid, MeKLG, and KLG in a 8.6% methanol-water solution buffered at a pH of approximately 5 to 6 with MES buffer. Candida Antartica B lipase, pig liver esterase, and Bacillus species protease showed particularly high levels of activity.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Enzyme Screen for Hydrolysis/Methanolysis of Butyl-KLG                           (38° C. for 19 Hours/8.6% Methanol-Water/0.1M MES)                      Enzyme          Comment  KLG  MeKLG ASA  BuKLG                               ______________________________________                                         L-1 (Pseudomonas sp))                                                                        Lipase   137    116   47   7601                                    L-2 (Candida antartica B) Lipase 5249 1921 0 768                               L-3 (Candida cylindracea) Lipase 183 64 107 6920                               L-4 (Pseudomonas sp) Lipase 239 163 88 9957                                    L-5 (Candida antartica A) Lipase 278 344 0 6245                                L-6 (Pseudomonas sp) Lipase 90 219 15 6613                                     L-7 (Porcine pancreas) Lipase 1007 575 106 5392                                L-8 (Humicola sp) Lipase 209 70 150 7957                                       no enzyme  168 152 6 8753                                                      no enzyme  152 144 3 8233                                                      no enzyme  170 137 18 8157                                                     ESL-001-01 Recombi- 1271 906 375 4635                                           nant                                                                          ESL-001-02 Biocat- 883 329 332 5949                                             alysis                                                                        ESL-001-03 Enzymes 290 123 447 7333                                            ESL-001-04  511 161 306 6207                                                   ESL-001-05  364 124 299 6402                                                   ESL-001-06  329 117 118 6934                                                   ESL-001-07  0 122 430 15752                                                    Pig Liver Esterase  2726 3731 423 10                                           Pseudomonas cepacia  241 109 224 9135                                          Lipase                                                                         Porcine Pancreatic Lipase  333 291 314 7888                                    Candida rugosa Lipase  296 86 451 8697                                         no enzyme  153 116 8 8234                                                      Alpha-Chymotrypsin protease 330 1076 65 3855                                   Penicillin Acylase  187 1248 157 8110                                          no enzyme  100 73 3 5296                                                       no enzyme  144 113 7 8106                                                      Aspergillus niger Lipase  479 72 84 8455                                       Mucor meihei Lipase  229 278 156 8620                                          ChiroCLEC-CR lipase 233 155 11 7569                                            Subtilisin Carlsberg  4463 93 0 4428                                           Candida antarctica A lipase 215 0 175 7573                                     Candida lipolytica Lipase  198 62 92 8445                                      Bacillus Sp Protease  4920 642 13 72                                           ChiroCLEC-BL protease  2860 1233 135 4051                                      ChiroCLEC PC lipase  127 62 2 5653                                             Candida Rugosa esterase  178 120 225 9382                                    ______________________________________                                    

Example 8

Table 8 below illustrates that a variety of acylases, esterases, lipases, and proteases showed appreciable conversion of butyl-KLG to ascorbic acid, MeKLG, and KLG in a 8.6% methanol-water solution buffered at a pH of approximately 5.8 to 6.2 with MES buffer. Pig liver esterase, Candida Antartica B lipase, Bacillus species protease, and lightly crosslinked crystalline Subtilisin (ChirClec-BL) showed particularly high levels of activity.

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         Enzyme Screen for Hydrolysis/Methanolysis of Butyl-KLG                           (38° C. for 21 Hours/8.6% Methanol-Water/0.2M MES                                                                  BuKLG                               Enzyme Comment pH KLG MeKLG ASA (ppm)                                        ______________________________________                                         Pig Liver Esterase   5.8   2373 4167  717  83                                    Pseudomonas cepacia  5.9 173 169 25 7384                                       Lipase                                                                         Porcine Pancreatic  5.9 303 320 78 6860                                        Lipase                                                                         Candida rugosa  5.9 260 112 271 7351                                           Lipase                                                                         Alpha-Chymotrypsin protease 5.9 506 1239 146 4707                              Penicillin Acylase  6 176 1172 98 5392                                         Aspergillus niger  5.9 493 259 84 6364                                         Lipase                                                                         Mucor meihei Lipase  5.9 243 283 54 7067                                       no enzyme  5.9 198 173 2 7137                                                  no enzyme  5.9 216 153 0 7115                                                  no enzyme  5.9 223 154 1 7319                                                  Candida Antartica  5.9 222 142 148 6683                                        `A` Lipase                                                                     Candida lipolytica  6 721 123 25 6721                                          Lipase                                                                         Candida antartica  5.9 2708 709 20 28                                          `B` Lipase                                                                     Humicola lanuginosa  5.9 176 129 10 7215                                       Lipase                                                                         Bacillus Species  5.8 5553 603 0 33                                            Protease                                                                       ChiroCLEC-CR (Dry)  6.1 229 170 2 7191                                         ChiroCLEC-BL (Dry)  5.9 4293 1282 6 1376                                       ChiroCLEC-PC  6.1 240 268 2 7539                                               (P. cepacia-Dry)                                                               Rhizoipus Delmar  6 178 0 0 7097                                               Lipase                                                                         Rhizopus Niveus  6.2 178 181 61 7102                                           Lipase                                                                         Rhizopus Oryzae  6.1 159 119 26 7611                                           Lipase                                                                         Chromobacterium  6 415 181 2 7275                                              Viscosum Lipase                                                                Geotricum Candidum  6.1 146 122 6 6140                                         Lipase                                                                         Mucor Javanicus  6.2 167 95 141 7422                                           Lipase                                                                         Aspergillus Oryzae  6.1 2193 1462 39 2904                                      Protease                                                                       Candida Rugosa  5.8 129 132 17 7164                                            Esterase                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

Example 9

Table 9 below demonstrates the statistical reproduction of the activity detected for highly active enzymes in the preceding examples. Eight of the enzymes from the previous examples, which were identified as showing particularly high levels of activity, were compared under tight pH control. All of the previously identified enzymes with high levels of activity maintained this high level of activity on reanalysis. The enzymes exhibited appreciable conversion of butyl-KLG to ascorbic acid, MeKLG, and KLG in a 8.6% methanol-water solution buffered at a pH of approximately 5.6 to 6 with 0.2 M MES buffer. Candida Antartica B lipase, pig liver esterase, and Bacillus species protease showed particularly high levels of activity within this comparative example. Pig liver esterase showed a selectivity toward transesterification as well as significant conversions to ascorbic acid.

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Enzyme Screen for Hydrolysis/Methanolysis of Butyl-KLG                           (38° C. for 19 Hours/8.6% Metanol-Water/0.2 M MES Buffer)                                                          BuKLG                                                                           Enzyme Comment PH KLG MeKLG                                                   ASA (ppm)                         ______________________________________                                         N Protease  Protease 6     700  1166  297  5435                                  Candida Antartica B Lipase 5.8 4347 2207 283 0                                 Pig Liver Esterase Esterase 5.9 1947 4258 650 0                                Bacillus sp Protease Protease 5.6 5137 745 55 0                                ChiroClec-BL (Dry) Subtilisin 5.8 3485 1235 215 3045                           Prozyme-6 Protease 5.8 3405 1518 73 1624                                       Protease M Protease 6 554 668 271 6329                                         2A Protease Protease 5.9 1585 1501 153 3954                                    no enzyme  6 135 149 14 8170                                                   no enzyme  5.9 136 127 16 8418                                                 no enzyme  6 142 133 13 8570                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Example 10

Table 10 below compares the same enzymes as in Example 9 except at a higher concentration of organic solvent. Candida Antartica B and Bacillus species protease showed particularly high levels of activity in that they exhibited appreciable conversion of butyl-KLG to ascorbic acid, MeKLG, and KLG in a 38% methanol-water solution buffered at a pH of approximately 5.6 to 6.2 with 0.2 M MES buffer. Decreased, although still appreciable, activity is observed for pig liver esterase relative to that shown in Example 9.

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         Enzyme Screen for Hydrolysis/Methanolysis of Butyl-KLG                           (38° C. for 19 Hours/38% Methanol-Water/0.2 M MES Buffer)                                                          BuKLG                                                                           Enzyme Comment pH KLG MeKLG                                                   ASA (ppm)                         ______________________________________                                         N Protease  Protease 5.9   176  1144  126  8153                                  Candida Antartica B Lipase 5.8 1701 5710 213 199                               Pig Liver Esterase Esterase 6 203 1654 173 7030                                Bacillus sp Protease Protease 5.6 3104 4032 182 213                            Chiroclec-BL (Dry) Protease 5.8 1261 1693 102 5572                             Prozyme-6 Protease 6 350 1268 47 7517                                          Protease M Protease 6.2 141 408 199 9400                                       2A Protease Protease 6.1 178 626 90 8666                                       no enzyme  6 69 221 8 9418                                                     no enzyme  5.9 61 189 7 8790                                                   no enzyme  6 63 203 9 9367                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Example 11

Table 11 below compares the same enzymes as in Example 9 except at a pH buffered around 5.2. Candida Antartica B and pig liver esterase showed particularly high levels of activity in that they exhibited appreciable conversion of butyl-KLG to MeKLG and KLG in a 8.6% methanol-water solution buffered at a pH of approximately 4.9 to 5.3 with 0.2 M pyridine/pyridinium hydrochloride buffer. Decreased, although still appreciable, activity is observed for Bacillus species protease relative to Example 9.

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         Enzyme Screen for Hydrolysis/Methanolysis of BUKLG                               (38° C. for ca 19 Hours/8.6% Methanol-Water/0.2 M Pyridine/            Pyridiniuym Hydrochloride)                                                                                                 BuKLG                                                                           Enzyme Comment pH KLG MeKLG                                                   ASA (ppm)                         ______________________________________                                         N Protease  Protease 5.2   87   237   47   8320                                  Candida Antartica B Lipase 4.9 3460 3097 53 0                                  Pig Liver Esterase Esterase 5.2 1613 5787 37 390                               Bacillus sp Protease Protease 5.1 1613 2473 70 3757                            ChiroClec-BL (Dry) Protease 5.1 987 1360 67 5603                               Prozyme-6 Protease 5.2 700 840 7 6470                                          Protease M Protease 5.3 187 357 0 8387                                         2A Protease Protease 5.2 480 643 0 7523                                        no enzyme  5.3 97 0 153 9750                                                   no enzyme  5,2 73 0 80 9547                                                  ______________________________________                                    

Example 12

Table 12 below compares the same enzymes as in Example 11 except at a higher concentration of organic solvent. Candida Antartica B showed particularly high levels of activity in that it exhibited appreciable conversion of butyl-KLG to MeKLG and KLG in 38% methanol-water solution buffered at a pH of approximately 4.7 to 5.1 with 0.2 M pyridine/pyridinium hydrochloride buffer. All of the enzymes showed reduced activity relative to Examples 9 and 11.

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                         Enzyme Screen for Hydrolysis/Methanolysis of BuKLG                               (38° C. for ca. 19 Hours/H 4.9/38% Methanol-Water)                      Enzyme        Comment PH   KLG  MeKLG ASA  BuKLG                             ______________________________________                                         N Protease  Protease                                                                               4.8    0    0     17   9093                                  Candida Antartica B Lipase 4.7 1953 6470 0 5373                                Pig Liver Esterase Esterase 4.9 47 197 0 11750                                 Bacillus sp Protease 4.9 333 2113 30 10043                                     Protease                                                                       ChiroClec-BL (Dry) Protease 4.9 97 447 7 10950                                 Prozyme-6 Protease 4.9 0 113 3 12730                                           Protease M Protease 5.1 73 203 0 15887                                         2A Protease Protease 5 67 150 0 13920                                          no enzyme  4.9 87 13 27 11753                                                ______________________________________                                    

Example 13

Table 13 below compares the same enzymes as in Examples 9 and 11 except at a pH buffered around 2.3. All enzymes tested showed reduced activity relative to Examples 9 and 11 for conversion of butyl-KLG to ascorbic acid, MeKLG, and KLG in a 8.6% methanol-water solution buffered at a pH of approximately 2.3-2.7 with 0.2 M phosphate buffer.

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         Enzyme Screen for Hydrolysis/Methanolysis of BuKLG (38° C. for           20 Hours/8.6% Methanol-Water/pH 2.3 0.2M Phosphate Buffer)                      Enzyme       Comment  PH   KLG  MeKLG ASA  BuKLG                             ______________________________________                                         N Protease Protease 2.4    203  0     3    8980                                  Candida Antartica B Lipase 2.4 397 323 0 8463                                  Pig Liver Esterase Esterase 2.4 417 93 0 9500                                  Bacillus sp Protease Protease 2.3 347 0 0 10987                                ChiroClec-BL (Dry) Protease 2.3 387 0 0 10580                                  Prozyme-6 Protease 2.4 440 0 0 12357                                           Protease N Protease 2.6 137 333 0 12237                                        2A Protease Protease 2.7 163 347 0 10600                                       No enzyme  2.3 487 0 0 10417                                                   No enzyme  2.3 413 0 0 9897                                                    No enzyme  2.3 407 0 0 9873                                                  ______________________________________                                    

Example 14

Table 14 below compares the first 5 enzymes of Examples 9 and 11 at a buffered pH of about 6 in their ability to catalyze the esterification of KLG to methyl KLG (MeKLG) or their ability to catalyze ring closure of KLG to ascorbic acid. Low levels of activity are observed relative to examples 9 and 11.

                  TABLE 14                                                         ______________________________________                                         Enzyme Screen for Methanolysis of KLG                                            (38° C. for 19 Hours/8.6% Methanol-Water/0.2M MES Buffer)               Enzyme       Comment  PH   KLG  MeKLG ASA  BuKLG                             ______________________________________                                         N Protease Protease 6      3791 0     0    0                                     Candida Antartica B Lipase 6 4258 0 0 0                                        Pig Liver Esterase Esterase 6 4393 0 0 0                                       Bacillus sp Protease Protease 6 4099 0 0 0                                     ChiroClec-BL (Dry) Subtilisin 6.1 3270 0 0 0                                   no enzyme  6 4340 0 0 0                                                        no enzyme  6 3295 0 0 0                                                        no enzyme  6 4029 0 0 0                                                      ______________________________________                                    

Example 15

Table 15 below demonstrates the production of MeKLG from KLG using Candida Antartica B lipase as catalyst in 8.6% aqueous methanol at a pH of 3-3.2. The buffer was chosen as a mixture of KLG and its sodium salt (approximately 1/9). The first three entries include enzyme catalyst and are the same conditions in triplicate. The second three entries also run in triplicate and are the same conditions as the first three entries except that no enzyme was present. The first three entries show significant esterification of KLG to MeKLG in the presence of Candida Antartica B lipase. The second three entries demonstrate that the conversion does not proceed in the absence of Candida Antartica B lipase.

                                      TABLE 15                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Enzyme Screen for Esterification of KLG                                          68 Hours at 38° C./8.6% Methanol in Aqueous Phase/Buffer = KLG +      NaKLG                                                                          Enzyme    Comment  pH                                                                               KLG                                                                               MeKLG                                                                               ASA                                                                               BuKLG                                          __________________________________________________________________________     Candida Antartica B                                                                      8.6% MeOH + KLG                                                                         3.1                                                                              9227                                                                              460  0  0                                                Candida Antartica B 8.6% MeOH + KLG 3.1 9303 530 0 0                           Candida Antartica B 8.6% MeOH + KLG 3.2 9213 413 0 0                           no enzyme 8.6% MeOH + KLG 2.9 9530 0 0 0                                       no enzyme 8.6% MeOH + KLG 2.9 9477 0 0 0                                       no enzyme 8.6% MeOH + KLG 2.9 9600 0 0 0                                     __________________________________________________________________________

Example 16

This example demonstrates the slow decomposition of ascorbic acid under the conditions of HPLC analysis. HPLC sample standards were prepared by dissolving KLG, MeKLG, ascorbic acid (ASA), and butyl-KLG to the appropriate concentration in water. Samples of these standards were placed in filled and sealed vials, stored at room temperature, and analyzed periodically. The HPLC was calibrated on the area response for standards that were injected onto the HPLC as soon as possible after the preparation of the standards. Table 16 below shows the recorded responses for KLG, MeKLG, ascorbic acid, and butyl-KLG standards of 50, 100, and 500 ppm at time 0 (calibration time), at approximately 6.5 hours, and at approximately 12 hours after sample preparation.

                  TABLE 16                                                         ______________________________________                                                              Amount                                                      Time  Found                                                                    (minutes) Amount Prepared KLG MeKLG ASA BuKLG                                ______________________________________                                         0        50 ppm standard                                                                            51      51.4  53.4  50.6                                    400  39.9 47.7 28.3 42.7                                                       715  52 43 0 38.2                                                              0 100 ppm standard 102 103 107 101                                             400  94.3 106.8 96.6 100.1                                                     715  81.8 90.2 57.2 94.2                                                       0 500 ppm standard 510 514 534 506                                             400  479 496 487 512                                                           715  493 495 473 499                                                         ______________________________________                                    

The ascorbic acid responses were non-linear over time with respect to the other standards and, particularly, with respect to standards of 100 ppm or less. Given that the treatment for Examples 2-16 included approximately 16 hours or more at 38° C. on a shaker bath prior to HPLC analysis, it follows that the actual level of ascorbic acid formed was greater than reported.

This invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

SEQ ID NO: 1

SEQ ID NO: 2

SEQ ID NO: 3

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                    - -  - - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                              - -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES:  3                                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH:  379 ami - #no acids                                               (B) TYPE:  Amino Aci - #d                                                      (D) TOPOLOGY:  Linear                                                 - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE:  protein                                           - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION:  SEQ ID NO: - #1:                           - - Met Met Arg Lys Lys Ser Phe Trp Leu Gly Me - #t Leu Thr Ala Phe         Met                                                                                1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15              - - Leu Val Phe Thr Met Ala Phe Ser Asp Ser Al - #a Ser Ala Ala Gln Pro                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Ala Lys Asn Val Glu Lys Asp Tyr Ile Val Gl - #y Phe Lys Ser Gly Val                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Lys Thr Ala Ser Val Lys Lys Asp Ile Ile Ly - #s Glu Ser Gly Gly Lys            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Val Asp Lys Gln Phe Arg Ile Ile Asn Ala Al - #a Lys Ala Lys Leu Asp       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Lys Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Val Lys Asn Asp Pr - #o Asp Val Ala Tyr Val                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Glu Glu Asp His Val Ala His Ala Leu Ala Gl - #n Thr Val Pro Tyr Gly                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Ile Pro Leu Ile Lys Ala Asp Lys Val Gln Al - #a Gln Gly Phe Lys Gly               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Ala Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gl - #y Ile Gln Ala Ser His           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Pro Asp Leu Asn Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ser Ph - #e Val Ala Gly Glu Ala       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Tyr Asn Thr Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr Hi - #s Val Ala Gly Thr         Val                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Ala Ala Leu Asp Asn Thr Thr Gly Val Leu Gl - #y Val Ala Pro Ser Val                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Asn Ser Se - #r Gly Ser Gly Thr Tyr               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Ser Gly Ile Val Ser Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Th - #r Thr Asn Gly Met Asp           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser Gl - #y Ser Thr Ala Met Lys       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Gln Ala Val Asp Asn Ala Tyr Ala Arg Gly Va - #l Val Val Val Ala         Ala                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Ala Gly Asn Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Asn Thr As - #n Thr Ile Gly Tyr Pro                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Ala Lys Tyr Asp Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Al - #a Val Asp Ser Asn Ser               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Ala Gl - #u Leu Glu Val Met Ala           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Pro Gly Ala Gly Val Tyr Ser Thr Tyr Pro Th - #r Ser Thr Tyr Ala Thr       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Va - #l Ala Gly Ala Ala         Ala                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Leu Ser Al - #a Ser Gln Val Arg Asn                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Arg Leu Ser Ser Thr Ala Thr Tyr Leu Gly Se - #r Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly               355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Glu Ala Ala Ala Gl - #n                               370              - #   375                                                  - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH:  584 ami - #no acids                                               (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY:  Linear                                                 - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE:  protein                                           - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                - - Met Trp Leu Leu Pro Leu Val Leu Thr Ser Le - #u Ala Ser Ser Ala Thr         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Trp Ala Gly Gln Pro Ala Ser Pro Pro Val Va - #l Asp Thr Ala Gln Gly                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Arg Val Leu Gly Lys Tyr Val Ser Leu Glu Gl - #y Leu Ala Phe Thr Gln                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Pro Val Ala Val Phe Leu Gly Val Pro Phe Al - #a Lys Pro Pro Leu Gly            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Ser Leu Arg Phe Ala Pro Pro Gln Pro Ala Gl - #u Pro Trp Ser Phe Val        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Lys Asn Thr Thr Ser Tyr Pro Pro Met Cys Cy - #s Gln Asp Pro Val Val                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Glu Gln Met Thr Ser Asp Leu Phe Thr Asn Ph - #e Thr Gly Lys Glu Arg                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Leu Thr Leu Glu Phe Ser Glu Asp Cys Leu Ty - #r Leu Asn Ile Tyr Thr               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Pro Ala Asp Leu Thr Lys Arg Gly Arg Leu Pr - #o Val Met Val Trp Ile           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - His Gly Gly Gly Leu Val Leu Gly Gly Ala Pr - #o Met Tyr Asp Gly Val       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Val Leu Ala Ala His Glu Asn Phe Thr Val Va - #l Val Val Ala Ile         Gln                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Tyr Arg Leu Gly Ile Trp Gly Phe Phe Ser Th - #r Gly Asp Glu His Ser                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Arg Gly Asn Trp Gly His Leu Asp Gln Val Al - #a Ala Leu His Trp Val               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Gln Glu Asn Ile Ala Asn Phe Gly Gly Asp Pr - #o Gly Ser Val Thr Ile           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Phe Gly Glu Ser Phe Thr Ala Gly Gly Glu Se - #r Val Ser Val Leu Val       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Leu Ser Pro Leu Ala Lys Asn Leu Phe His Ar - #g Ala Ile Ser Glu         Ser                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Gly Val Ala Leu Thr Val Ala Leu Val Arg Ly - #s Asp Met Lys Ala Ala                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Ala Lys Gln Ile Ala Val Leu Ala Gly Cys Ly - #s Thr Thr Thr Ser Ala               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Val Phe Thr Phe Val His Cys Leu Arg Gln Ly - #s Ser Glu Asp Glu Leu           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Leu Asp Leu Thr Leu Lys Met Lys Phe Leu Th - #r Leu Asp Phe His Gly       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Asp Gln Arg Glu Ser His Pro Phe Leu Pro Th - #r Val Val Asp Gly         Val                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Leu Leu Pro Lys Met Pro Glu Glu Ile Leu Al - #a Glu Lys Asp Phe Thr                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Phe Asn Thr Val Pro Tyr Ile Val Gly Ile As - #n Lys Gln Glu Phe Gly               355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - Trp Leu Leu Pro Thr Met Met Gly Phe Pro Le - #u Ser Glu Gly Lys Leu           370              - #   375              - #   380                           - - Asp Gln Lys Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Leu Trp Ly - #s Ser Tyr Pro Ile Ala       385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -       #00                                                                               - - Asn Ile Pro Glu Glu Leu Thr Pro Val Ala Th - #r Phe Thr Asp Lys         Tyr                                                                                              405  - #               410  - #               415              - - Leu Gly Gly Thr Asp Asp Pro Val Lys Lys Ly - #s Asp Leu Phe Leu Asp                   420      - #           425      - #           430                   - - Leu Met Gly Asp Val Val Phe Gly Val Pro Se - #r Val Thr Val Ala Arg               435          - #       440          - #       445                       - - Gln His Arg Asp Ala Gly Ala Pro Thr Tyr Me - #t Tyr Glu Phe Gln Tyr           450              - #   455              - #   460                           - - Arg Pro Ser Phe Ser Ser Asp Lys Phe Thr Ly - #s Pro Lys Thr Val Ile       465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -       #80                                                                               - - Gly Asp His Gly Asp Glu Ile Phe Ser Val Ph - #e Gly Phe Pro Leu         Leu                                                                                              485  - #               490  - #               495              - - Lys Gly Asp Ala Pro Glu Glu Glu Val Ser Le - #u Ser Lys Thr Val Met                   500      - #           505      - #           510                   - - Lys Phe Trp Ala Asn Phe Ala Arg Ser Gly As - #n Pro Asn Gly Glu Gly               515          - #       520          - #       525                       - - Leu Pro His Trp Pro Phe Thr Met Tyr Asp Gl - #n Glu Glu Gly Tyr Leu           530              - #   535              - #   540                           - - Gln Ile Gly Val Asn Thr Gln Ala Ala Lys Ar - #g Leu Lys Gly Glu Glu       545                 5 - #50                 5 - #55                 5 -       #60                                                                               - - Val Ala Phe Trp Asn Asp Leu Leu Ser Lys Gl - #u Ala Ala Lys Lys         Pro                                                                                              565  - #               570  - #               575              - - Pro Lys Ile Lys His Ala Glu Leu                                                       580                                                                 - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH:  342 ami - #no acids                                               (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY:  Linear                                                 - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE:   protein                                          - -      (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #3:                           - - Met Lys Leu Leu Ser Leu Thr Gly Val Ala Gl - #y Val Leu Ala Thr Cys         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Val Ala Ala Thr Pro Leu Val Lys Arg Leu Pr - #o Ser Gly Ser Asp Pro                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Ala Phe Ser Gln Pro Lys Ser Val Leu Asp Al - #a Gly Leu Thr Cys Gln                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Gly Ala Ser Pro Ser Ser Val Ser Lys Pro Il - #e Leu Leu Val Pro Gly            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Thr Gly Thr Thr Gly Pro Gln Ser Phe Asp Se - #r Asn Trp Ile Pro Leu        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Ser Thr Gln Leu Gly Tyr Thr Pro Cys Trp Il - #e Ser Pro Pro Pro Phe                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Met Leu Asn Asp Thr Gln Val Asn Thr Glu Ty - #r Met Val Asn Ala Ile                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Thr Ala Leu Tyr Ala Gly Ser Gly Asn Asn Ly - #s Leu Pro Val Leu Thr               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Trp Ser Gln Gly Gly Leu Val Ala Gln Trp Gl - #y Leu Thr Phe Phe Pro           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Ser Ile Arg Ser Lys Val Asp Arg Leu Met Al - #a Phe Ala Pro Asp Tyr       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Lys Gly Thr Val Leu Ala Gly Pro Leu Asp Al - #a Leu Ala Val Ser         Ala                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Pro Ser Val Trp Gln Gln Thr Thr Gly Ser Al - #a Leu Thr Thr Ala Leu                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Arg Asn Ala Gly Gly Leu Thr Gln Ile Val Pr - #o Thr Thr Asn Leu Tyr               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Ser Ala Thr Asp Glu Ile Val Gln Pro Gln Va - #l Ser Asn Ser Pro Leu           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Asp Ser Ser Tyr Leu Phe Asn Gly Lys Asn Va - #l Gln Ala Gln Ala Val       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Cys Gly Pro Leu Phe Val Ile Asp His Ala Gl - #y Ser Leu Thr Ser         Gln                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Phe Ser Tyr Val Val Gly Arg Ser Ala Leu Ar - #g Ser Thr Thr Gly Gln                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Ala Arg Ser Ala Asp Tyr Gly Ile Thr Asp Cy - #s Asn Pro Leu Pro Ala               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Asn Asp Leu Thr Pro Glu Gln Lys Val Ala Al - #a Ala Ala Leu Leu Ala           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Pro Ala Ala Ala Ala Ile Val Ala Gly Pro Ly - #s Gln Asn Cys Glu Pro       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Asp Leu Met Pro Tyr Ala Arg Pro Phe Ala Va - #l Gly Lys Arg Thr         Cys                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Ser Gly Ile Val Thr Pro                                                               340                                                               __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for preparing 2-keto-L-gulonic acid comprising the steps of:(a) preparing an aqueous solution of an ester of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, and (b) then contacting the ester of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid in solution with a hydrolase enzyme catalyst to form 2-keto-L-gulonic acid.
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrolase enzyme catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a protease, an esterase, a lipase and an amidase.
 3. The process of claim 1 wherein a co-solvent is used in preparing the aqueous solution.
 4. The process of claim 3 wherein the co-solvent is a C₁ to C₆ alcohol. 